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Dragons 18 Ospreys 14

SIX penalties by fly-half Steffan Jones earned Newport Gwent Dragons a hard-earned LV= Cup win against the Ospreys at a sodden Rodney Parade this evening.

The west Walians crossed for the only try of the game but the hosts sneaked home thanks to the unerring right boot of their number 10.

The Dragons’ hopes of making the semi-finals were only mathematical when they woke up this morning and by kick-off they had gone, Harlequins’ victory against London Welsh at the Stoop putting them English champions out of reach.

But they still had plenty of motivation given that they headed into the game on the back of five defeats.

They duly ended that streak, but it wasn’t pretty in horrendous conditions.

And the result was somewhat overshadowed by what looked like a serious ankle injury suffered by popular winger Mike Poole in the first minute.

The 26-year-old, who has suffered serious ligament damage to both knees, took a blow when carrying the ball hard in the first minute and was stretchered off with his ankle in an inflatable brace.

The whistle of Llyr Ap Geraint-Roberts, the English official with a Welsh name, was the dominant feature of a pretty poor first half.

He awarded 15 penalties and dished out yellow cards to both number eights, the Dragons’ Ieuan Jones and the Ospreys’ Morgan Allen (formerly of Pontypool).

The score was 9-9 as the teams headed to the changing rooms to dry out and warm up, Steffan Jones and Matthew Morgan booting three penalties apiece.

The visitors had the benefit of the wind at their backs in the first half so the Dragons, who started well but tailed off, would have been confident of claiming the victory.

Yet it was the Ospreys that played the better rugby at the start of the second half with full-back Jamie Murphy and Morgan to the fore.

That didn’t show on the scoreboard, however, with Jones edging the hosts in front with yet another penalty.

Back came the Ospreys and after wing Matthew Pewtner made a hash of fielding the ball on his line, the visitors piled the pressure on before Wales back row forward Jonathan Thomas barged over.

The inexperienced Ospreys looked set to take the spoils but thankfully Jones’ hot streak from the tee continued and his fifth and sixth penalties secured a hard-earned win.

Comments

NOT A CLASSIC,
NOT A PRETTY SPECTACLE,
BUT A WIN, IS A WIN, IS A WIN........
AND WE WON (FOR A CHANGE)!!!CaptainB

NOT A CLASSIC,

NOT A PRETTY SPECTACLE,

BUT A WIN, IS A WIN, IS A WIN........

AND WE WON (FOR A CHANGE)!!!

Score: 0

Doberman1
10:40pm Sat 26 Jan 13

The Ospreys 3rd team know they were in a game tonight!
Gutted for Mike Poole, hope the injury is not as serious as it looked.
Thought Steffan Jones kicking from the tee was excellent.
A win is a win, such a rare occurrence we need to savour them.

The Ospreys 3rd team know they were in a game tonight!
Gutted for Mike Poole, hope the injury is not as serious as it looked.
Thought Steffan Jones kicking from the tee was excellent.
A win is a win, such a rare occurrence we need to savour them.Doberman1

The Ospreys 3rd team know they were in a game tonight!
Gutted for Mike Poole, hope the injury is not as serious as it looked.
Thought Steffan Jones kicking from the tee was excellent.
A win is a win, such a rare occurrence we need to savour them.

Score: 0

Euwan Usami
11:26pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Game reflected the conditions. Solid display from Steff. I was concerned that we gave away so many penalties again against a side that was supposed to be inferior. It may well be part of the mindset in training now to get any kind of edge they can but we seem to be constantly pinged any time the ball goes to ground. It's a win though. Roll on next month and the new signings announcements that will save the day no doubt. I am starting to sound negative about it already. Let's hope I am wrong.

Game reflected the conditions. Solid display from Steff. I was concerned that we gave away so many penalties again against a side that was supposed to be inferior. It may well be part of the mindset in training now to get any kind of edge they can but we seem to be constantly pinged any time the ball goes to ground. It's a win though. Roll on next month and the new signings announcements that will save the day no doubt. I am starting to sound negative about it already. Let's hope I am wrong.Euwan Usami

Game reflected the conditions. Solid display from Steff. I was concerned that we gave away so many penalties again against a side that was supposed to be inferior. It may well be part of the mindset in training now to get any kind of edge they can but we seem to be constantly pinged any time the ball goes to ground. It's a win though. Roll on next month and the new signings announcements that will save the day no doubt. I am starting to sound negative about it already. Let's hope I am wrong.

Score: 0

Robert Shillabeer
12:29am Sun 27 Jan 13

The god thing about the game was the Dragons didn't fod and give the advantage away. They went behind but fought back to take it by one point, and then went on to make it four points. Stood up to the late surge by the Ospreys and held out quite comfortably to get the win which a lot of people said was unlikely. Hope Pooly's injury is not too serious, we need him to be fit SOON.

The god thing about the game was the Dragons didn't fod and give the advantage away. They went behind but fought back to take it by one point, and then went on to make it four points. Stood up to the late surge by the Ospreys and held out quite comfortably to get the win which a lot of people said was unlikely. Hope Pooly's injury is not too serious, we need him to be fit SOON.Robert Shillabeer

The god thing about the game was the Dragons didn't fod and give the advantage away. They went behind but fought back to take it by one point, and then went on to make it four points. Stood up to the late surge by the Ospreys and held out quite comfortably to get the win which a lot of people said was unlikely. Hope Pooly's injury is not too serious, we need him to be fit SOON.

Score: 0

[deleted]
8:51am Sun 27 Jan 13

[deleted]

Mike pool should give up rugby, its clear he is too fragile for the game. He is not that good either in my view, and I would hate to see him get a serious injury, there is a life after rugby.
Good to see a win, but the dragons are awful, a new coaching team is needed for next season.rhinestine

Mike pool should give up rugby, its clear he is too fragile for the game. He is not that good either in my view, and I would hate to see him get a serious injury, there is a life after rugby.

Good to see a win, but the dragons are awful, a new coaching team is needed for next season.

Score: 0

[deleted]
1:59pm Sun 27 Jan 13

[deleted]

[quote][p][bold]rhinestine[/bold] wrote:
Mike pool should give up rugby, its clear he is too fragile for the game. He is not that good either in my view, and I would hate to see him get a serious injury, there is a life after rugby.
Good to see a win, but the dragons are awful, a new coaching team is needed for next season.[/p][/quote]Agree with that, not surprised we won aains ospreys thirds but... we were at virtual full stength and were still infringing constantly against weak opposition, a decent team would have won this easily, also if the ospreys had carried on scrumaging in the 78th minute instead of tacking a silly quick pen there is every chance they would have won the game as we were in reverse by then against a youth side, theres much to be done.let em swing

rhinestine wrote…

Mike pool should give up rugby, its clear he is too fragile for the game. He is not that good either in my view, and I would hate to see him get a serious injury, there is a life after rugby.

Good to see a win, but the dragons are awful, a new coaching team is needed for next season.

Agree with that, not surprised we won aains ospreys thirds but... we were at virtual full stength and were still infringing constantly against weak opposition, a decent team would have won this easily, also if the ospreys had carried on scrumaging in the 78th minute instead of tacking a silly quick pen there is every chance they would have won the game as we were in reverse by then against a youth side, theres much to be done.

Score: 0

beenabout the valley
3:49pm Sun 27 Jan 13

No pretty - wouldn't expect ant team to perform well in the those conditions.

Don't take nothing away from the Dragons win by saying they were playing the Osprey 2nds/3rds. Need to remember he number of young guys who playedfor the Dragon last night, prety much the U20's. Outside half about 20. Dixon (17) and Amos (18) plus few others.

I'm not a massive fan of the Dragns but credit where credit is due, take out the big gun from the other teams and you get a similair picture. Emphasises that it' all about budget.

Personally - well done guys.

No pretty - wouldn't expect ant team to perform well in the those conditions.
Don't take nothing away from the Dragons win by saying they were playing the Osprey 2nds/3rds. Need to remember he number of young guys who playedfor the Dragon last night, prety much the U20's. Outside half about 20. Dixon (17) and Amos (18) plus few others.
I'm not a massive fan of the Dragns but credit where credit is due, take out the big gun from the other teams and you get a similair picture. Emphasises that it' all about budget.
Personally - well done guys.beenabout the valley

No pretty - wouldn't expect ant team to perform well in the those conditions.

Don't take nothing away from the Dragons win by saying they were playing the Osprey 2nds/3rds. Need to remember he number of young guys who playedfor the Dragon last night, prety much the U20's. Outside half about 20. Dixon (17) and Amos (18) plus few others.

I'm not a massive fan of the Dragns but credit where credit is due, take out the big gun from the other teams and you get a similair picture. Emphasises that it' all about budget.

Personally - well done guys.

Score: 0

[deleted]
7:52am Tue 29 Jan 13

[deleted]

Why has my post been taken down?! How was it offensive? The Argus has issues!rhinestine

Why has my post been taken down?! How was it offensive? The Argus has issues!

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